Lane Positions and Riding the RT-S?

[jlg]

Folks,
I'm just curious -- since the Spyder is much wider than a regular 2-wheeler, does the Left/Center/Right lane position even matter with an RT? Do you use different parts of the lane when riding? Can you still do outside-inside-outside on turns???

Also, if you go over stuff like potholes or manhole covers, how do you take it? On 2 wheels, you usually go around them -- with the Spyder, if you can't do that and stay in your lane, do you hit them with one of the FRONT wheels, or do you put it between the front and have the rear go over it?

Sorry for the newbie questions (can you tell I just took the MSF course a few weeks ago???? ). I'll be picking up my new 2014 RT-S SE6 Cognac on this coming Saturday....

Thanks!
Jim

 

[jlg]

Oh, and here is the wee beastie - she glows in the sun for sure!

 

[Cruzr Joe]

If riding by yourself, stay in your lane any way you want, if following another Spyder stay on the side of the lane that they are not in (for better forward visibility). Try not to hit potholes with any wheels.


Cruzr Joe

 

[Chupaca]

Any part of the lane...

:agree: you will learn the ins and outs if you do any group rydes. your best on one side or the other of the lane to keep your back wheel from being in the center of the lane where all the debris is...:thumbup:

 

[PaladinLV]

Only if you want to see the spyders in front of you - lol
Our Spyder Chapter does stagger a bit were left track = left wheel in far left of lane and visa versa.
Since we travel 2 - 3 sec apart each trike has the full use of the lane.
Bottomline like I hope you were taught "Ride your own ride."

and Congrats!

AJ

Folks,
does the Left/Center/Right lane position even matter with an RT?
Thanks!
Jim

 

[2dogs]

Sweet, just like mine.........

Right/center/left it's all yours. Just stay in your lane. To began with take your turns slow and practice in a large empty parking lot to get the hang of it. You might invest in a bump-skid but take driveways at an angle to avoid hitting bottom. On the highway slowdown for obstructions and avoid hitting them with the front tires. If anything let the rear tire take the punishment. There's a post in here called the " the do's and don't's" and it has just about all the info you'll need to get you started safely. Happy trails!!

 

[jlg]

Thanks Guys _ I wasn't thinking specifically about group rides though. They did have a section on riding strategies of when it's best to be in the Left part of the lane, when to be in the center, and when to be in the right part of the lane for various situations. I was just curious if that even mattered with the Spyder since it covers way more of the lane than a standard bike.

Also, what about turns -- outside/inside/outside, or more like a cage??

 

[ARtraveler]

I usually try to leave a foot between my wheel and the edge of the lane I am in. When more than one motorcycle in our pack, we do stagger formation (one to the left side of lane, next to right side of lane, etc.).

I do the inside/outside thing on tight twisties--being careful not to touch or go over the center line--if indicated.

Dodging potholes or obstacles--that is a learned art with the Spyder. Practice in a parking lot to see what it takes to miss. Not difficult to miss them with the front wheels, but if you let it go between the wheels you rear tire will hit the obstacle about 99% of the time--guaranteed. If possible, the best way to miss an obstacle is to skirt it to the right or left completely.

Snow tire grooves in a lot of our roads sometimes require a balancing act to avoid being directed by the grooves. That will also dictate lane position.

 

[jlg]

Right/center/left it's all yours. Just stay in your lane. To began with take your turns slow and practice in a large empty parking lot to get the hang of it. You might invest in a bump-skid but take driveways at an angle to avoid hitting bottom. On the highway slowdown for obstructions and avoid hitting them with the front tires. If anything let the rear tire take the punishment. There's a post in here called the " the do's and don't's" and it has just about all the info you'll need to get you started safely. Happy trails!!

Thanks -- already getting the bump skid w/LEDs installed at the dealer before I bring her home!

 

[Pennyrick]

Welcome.

Try to miss stuff with the front tires... if you have to go over something with the rear it has a bit more meat on it and runs at a higher pressure so it make take the bump better. Also it is harder to put it out of alignment. As some said, it won't take long to get the hang of it.

Road kill is always a challenge especially when pulling a trailer. Those five wheels don't line up perfectly so there is a high likelihood one of the five wheels will get the critter.

I was following my wife on a trip and she tried to straddle a dead armadillo but she missed.
It went SPLAT and covered my frunk and windshield with armadillo guts.... ugh!!!

 

[Cyclist922]

Amen on the road kill! Other than the occasional bloated groundhog the worst things I've had to deal with were a 3 foot rattlesnake and a family of skunks. I yielded for the latter, the snake was SOL.

 

[MEP]

During group rides your lane position will be determined by the ride protocol. In addition to the various suggestions concerning your lane position while riding solo, maintain the safest position given road and riding conditions, the position that increases your visibility to others, and the position that best keeps you out of others' blind spots in traffic.

 

[jlg]

During group rides your lane position will be determined by the ride protocol. In addition to the various suggestions concerning your lane position while riding solo, maintain the safest position given road and riding conditions, the position that increases your visibility to others, and the position that best keeps you out of others' blind spots in traffic.

Thanks folks -- so the same L/C/R from the 2-wheel class still applies to the Spyder!

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Welcome.

Try to miss stuff with the front tires... if you have to go over something with the rear it has a bit more meat on it and runs at a higher pressure so it make take the bump better. Also it is harder to put it out of alignment. As some said, it won't take long to get the hang of it.

Road kill is always a challenge especially when pulling a trailer. Those five wheels don't line up perfectly so there is a high likelihood one of the five wheels will get the critter.

I was following my wife on a trip and she tried to straddle a dead armadillo but she missed.
It went SPLAT and covered my frunk and windshield with armadillo guts.... ugh!!!

MORAL of this story ................................. let Mama follow you :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

Put the bike in whatever part of the lane, that allows you to be seen best! :thumbup:
But use the entire lane for avoiding all of the "stuff" that can get in the way... :shocked:
If roadkill is small enough; try putting it JUST to the inside of either front tire. That should have it whiz harmlessly past the outside edge of your rear tire.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

POTHOLES

The rear tire takes potholes better than the front ...annnnnnnnnnnnd it won't screw up your ALIGNMENT ........IMHO.....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

Put the bike in whatever part of the lane, that allows you to be seen best! :thumbup:
But use the entire lane for avoiding all of the "stuff" that can get in the way... :shocked:
If roadkill is small enough; try putting it JUST to the inside of either front tire. That should have it whiz harmlessly past the outside edge of your rear tire.

:agree: It takes a little time on these things to get used to not straddling stuff like a cage.

 

[ThreeFeet]

I ryde with the PGR and we ryde STAGGERED. If the bike in front of you is to your left you ride RIGHT of him/her. Ditto if they are to your RIGHT. If you have a bunch of trikes and Spyders then pick a spot and try not to run into anything EXPENSIVE!!!

 

[Netminder]

:welcome: With group rides, if we are riding with more then 2, we stagger, makes for more visibility. The bump skid is definitely a necessity, one of the first things I put on! Enjoy your new ride. Wishing you many happy (S)miles!:thumbup: